STORRS, Conn. -- Kia Nurse was born not only into a family of athletes, but competitors.

"If you ever sat at the dinner table in the Nurse household you would think that all of us were insane," the University of Connecticut women's basketball team's senior guard said.

But if there's a discussion of the most competitive players to come through coach Geno Auriemma's program, Nurse's name would be prominent. And it's doubtful that Auriemma has ever asked the Hamilton, Ontario. Canada native for extra effort because she has been invested 100 percent since day one.

UConn's thank you for her efforts comes Friday night. The top-ranked Huskies have traveled to Toronto -- about an hour from Hamilton -- to take on Duquesne in a homecoming game for Canadian Olympian Nurse at the sold-out Mattamy Athletic Centre (SNY, 7 p.m.).

"It's awesome. It's an incredible facility," Nurse said. "Ryerson University and their coach has done a tremendous amount of work to try and make it something special and Canada Basketball is in on it as well. I'm excited to see my family and friends that will come out to support me. But I'm also excited for the kids that will come that get to see UConn play in person."

Among her family expected to be at the game are her father Richard, who played football in the CFL for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, mother Kathy, who played college basketball at McMaster in Canada, and older sister Tamika, who started her college career at Oregon before finishing and graduating from Bowling Green. Her older brother Darnell will not be able to make it as the NHL defenseman will be in Edmonton as he and the Oilers host the St. Louis Blues.

The friends will include a crowd of 2,500, which is capacity for the basketball arena in the old building once called Maple Leaf Gardens and the site of one Nurse's greatest triumphs when she led Team Canada to the gold medal -- its first -- at the 2015 Pan American Games.

"When I go back home I always get such a warm welcome, and Hamilton is essentially a hotbed for basketball within Ontario," Nurse said. "To go home and see everyone and to be in a place where there is a Tim Horton's, I'm excited for that. I think the reaction from the people at home has been amazing. They keep messaging me about how excited they are for me to come play there."

She returns to the area where she got her start playing basketball on a team coached by her father.

"That was an interesting dynamic on some days," Nurse said. "Practice was hard and I always thought he was really tough on me. But it helped make me what I am today and made me understand the work ethic needed to get here and be successful.

"With my family there was a very good balance of competitive nature and support. When you go through it and you're the last one to come out of a family that has accomplished so much on their own, having the ability to be a phone call away from someone that's gone through what you're going through has been beyond beneficial for me."

Her sister, who is nine years older, was her role model growing up. Her admiration for her brother, who is 12 months older, grew through the years as he made his way up the ranks of youth hockey in Canada en route to becoming the first-round pick (seventh overall) by the Oilers in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft.

Her growth as a player and person has been a total family affair.

"My sister always had the attitude that every time she walked into the gym, you thought there was no one that was going to stop her that day and she thought the same thing," Nurse said. "She had a competitive mentality and winner's attitude of, 'I'm going to do everything I can to help my team win today.' I always looked up to that and wanted that."

"My brother was always absolutely incredible. He would be on the ice twice a day, in the gym twice a day, and he never looked tired. He took care of himself and his body. To see him achieving his dreams right now, the way he holds himself and the way he carries himself on a day-to-day basis is incredible. He's a better person than a hockey player and that says a lot for him.

"My mom is competitive, but I think the IQ part comes from her. My dad is straight toughness, in your face and, 'I'll get you to do whatever is needed to work hard.' There's a competitive edge from them like, 'Someone is going to catch up to you if you don't keep working, so compete.'"

Nurse went to high school at St. Thomas More Catholic and caught the attention of Canada Basketball. At 15, she debuted for Team Canada at the 2011 FIBA Americas U-16 Championships and took part in the 2012 FIBA U-17 world championships a year later. She was 17 when she took part in an exhibition tour for the senior national team.

And it was in that summer of 2013 that the Huskies' coaching staff found her, though Nurse had written on a seventh-grade "dream chart" that she wanted to go to UConn.

"I was down to a short list by the time they recruited me and I with our senior national team for the first time," Nurse said. "My dad called me and asked if I wanted to play in a tournament in Washington when I got home. I told him I wasn't sure about that but he said, 'Your friends are playing.' OK, let's go. So we went out there and played and that is when UConn saw me. They called and a couple of other schools called so I thought, 'I have to give them a chance because their track record speaks for itself.' The Olympics was a big goal of mine and they produce Olympians. That was big, too.

"UConn was my third official visit and I had five planned. I cancelled the last two after I left here. It was down to those three. I loved it here, the campus, coaches, and players."

She quickly connected with Auriemma, who, the previous summer, had coached the United States to Olympic gold in London.

"I think I was scared of him back when I was being recruited," Nurse said with a laugh. "I wasn't big into the process because I didn't like all the attention and all that fun stuff around it. But hearing what he had to say and hearing how genuine he was, that was a big thing for me when he came on the home visit.

"He is always honest with you and is somebody that has an open-door policy. That was the vibe I got from him. He genuinely cares about developing you not only as a player but as a person. The life lessons he would teach us on the court would translate to things that would help us in life."

Friday night's game will be her 120th played (she missed four a season ago with an ankle injury) at UConn. The Huskies' record since her arrival is 121-2 with two national championships, three Final Four appearances, and three American Athletic Conference regular season and tournament titles.

A year ago, she reached the 1,000-point plateau and this season set a school record by making 12 consecutive 3-point shots. Through nine games she is averaging 15.6 points on 57.1 percent shooting from the floor and 54.3 percent from 3-point land, all career bests.

"I have grown so much here as a player and a person, and I'm going home to show them a very different player than the one who played in high school," Nurse said. "All those people who saw me in high school are going to be really confused."

But they'll remember what she did at the Mattamy Athletic Centre on July 20, 2015.

Nurse torched a United States team led by her UConn teammates Breanna Stewart and Moriah Jefferson for 33 points in an 81-73 win in the Pan American Games final. The Summer of Kia continued a month later when she led the Canadians to the gold medal and was the Most Valuable Player of the FIBA Americas tournament in Edmonton, a victory that gave Team Canada its berth in the 2016 Olympic Games.

Her trip with the Huskies is her first back to Mattamy Athletic Centre since that magic night.

"So much happened that summer," Nurse said with a smile. "For the first time, people in Canada were talking about women's basketball. It was in the headlines, on social media. People were interested in us. For so long it had been all about men's basketball with Steve Nash and Anthony Wiggins coming up and Jamal Murray. Now there was talk, 'Who's coming up with the women's team?' Once the Pan Am Games happened, all these little girls saw what Canada Basketball was and they could dream to be a part of it. Older people came out and said they needed to pay attention to us."

UConn (9-0) is coming off an 88-64 victory over Oklahoma Tuesday night that gave Auriemma his 1,000th win. Nurse, who had joked before the game she would play well against the Sooners so that Auriemma's milestone wouldn't wait until her homecoming night, was one of four players in double figures with 17 points while putting forth a solid performance at the defensive end. Freshman Megan Walker, who missed the Oklahoma game with the flu, practiced Thursday and should be available Friday night.

Duquesne (10-2) has won eight in a row and was a perfect partner for the Huskies to face. The Dukes feature their own Hamilton native in sophomore guard Halle Bovell. But Bovell has not played this season and may redshirt.

The teams last met in the 2016 NCAA tournament with UConn routing Duquesne 97-51 in a second-round game at Gampel Pavilion.

Katie Lou Samuelson had 15 points, nine rebounds and seven assists for UConn (27-0, 14-0 American), which led by as many as many as 32 in the first half and built a lead as large as 48 in the final period.

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The players give their best Auriemma impressions

8:49PM

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Various players on the UConn women's basketball team try their hand at some impressions of head coach Geno Auriemma.

Various players on the UConn women's basketball team try their hand at some impressions of head coach Geno Auriemma.

Parkland tragedy hits home for Williams

HARTFORD, Conn. -- A moment of silence was held prior to the start of the University of Connecticut women's basketball team's game with Temple Sunday to remember the victims of last Wednesday's shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.

UConn All-American Gabby Williams was among those with her head bowed paying tribute. The tragedy hit home for the Sparks, Nevada, native as on Oct. 21, 2013, during her senior year at Reed High, a school shooting at Sparks Middle School left two people, including the 12-year-old perpetrator, dead and two others injured.

"It did happen minutes from my house, obviously not to the same extent, but it is just kind of like enough is enough, and when is something going to change," Williams said following the top-ranked Huskies' 106-45 win. "It hits home because I'm going to have kids who go to school one day and I have little siblings in high school so it definitely hits home."

Samuelson, Huskies keep rolling

Connecticut Huskies guard/forward Katie Lou Samuelson reacts after a play against the Temple Owls in the first half at XL Center. (David Butler II/USA TODAY Sports)

HARTFORD, Conn. -- Katie Lou Samuelson has this habit -- not one of her best, she admits -- of when she drives to the basket and feels contact, she calls out, "And one," looking for a foul call.

The University of Connecticut women's basketball team's junior All-American's aggressive approach has developed since she first arrived here but she has taken her attack mode to another level in the last month even as she deals with an injured left ankle. It's one of the reasons that the buzz around her national Player of the Year candidacy continues to grow.

Samuelson's aggressiveness was rewarded Sunday as she completed a trio of the old-fashioned three-point plays to go along with four of her specialty, the 3-point shot. Her 27 points paced six players in double figures as No. 1 UConn routed Temple 106-45 in American Athletic Conference action before 13,110 at XL Center.

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UConn beats ECU, 84-80, despite Fleming's triple-double

Feb 18 | 6:24PM

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The UConn Huskies took on the East Carolina Pirates on the road and earned a narrow 84-80 victory, spurred by Jalen Adams' 26 points.

Connecticut put together one of its best offensive performances of the season. The Huskies needed it, because East Carolina's Isaac Fleming came up with another triple-double.

STORRS, Conn. -- Ten of the University of Connecticut women's basketball team's 11 national championship campaigns included winning at least a share of its league's regular season title.

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Geno Auriemma discusses the most overused terms in coaching

Feb 16 | 7:27PM

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UConn women's basketball head coach Geno Auriemma discusses what he believes the most overused terms are while coaching basketball.

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On the Clock: Geno and Justine

Feb 16 | 5:40PM

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On the Clock: Geno and Justine00:02:09

SNY's Justine Ward chats with UConn head coach Geno Auriemma about offbeat happenings in the world of sports.

SNY's Justine Ward chats with UConn head coach Geno Auriemma about offbeat happenings in the world of sports.

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UConn lose 73-71 to Tulsa; Vital scores 20 points

Feb 15 | 9:50PM

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UConn's Christian Vital had a solid day earning himself a double-double, but the Huskies fell to Tulsa, 73-71, on Thursday night.

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) Sterling Taplin scored a career-high 30 points and Tulsa beat UConn 73-71, sweeping the season series from the Huskies.

Junior Etou had 15 points and DaQuan Jefferies added 14 for Tulsa (15-10, 8-5), which extended its winning streak to four on Thursday night.

Christian Vital had 13 of his 20 points in the first half for UConn (12-14, 5-8) when the Huskies built up a 12-point lead. The Huskies, who have lost five of their last six, led 40-31 at intermission.

Samuelson, UConn hold off Louisville

Connecticut Huskies guard/forward Katie Lou Samuelson reacts after a play against the Louisville Cardinals in the second half at Gampel Pavilion. (David Butler II/USA TODAY Sports)

STORRS, Conn. -- Whether Katie Lou Samuelson can make a stretch run towards becoming the University of Connecticut women's basketball team's next national Player of the Year while dealing with her injured left ankle remains to be seen.

But it's hard to find many players around the country who are playing better than the Huskies' All-American guard is right now.

Samuelson gave UConn 40 minutes Monday night and scored 26 points as the top-ranked Huskies topped No. 4 Louisville before an announced sellout crowd of 10,167 at Gampel Pavilion.

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No. 1 UConn wins 25th straight with victory over No. 4 Louisville

Feb 12 | 8:59PM

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The UConn women's basketball team defeated Louisville, 69-58, on Monday night to improve to 25-0 on the season.

Katie Lou Samuelson scored 26 points and top-ranked UConn used an early run to beat No. 4 Louisville 69-58 on Monday night.

Napheesa Collier added 14 points and Gabby Williams had 12 points and 15 rebounds for the Huskies (25-0), who won their 76th consecutive home game and ended Louisville's 13-game road winning streak.

Louisville (25-2) scored the first three points and UConn rattled of 19 straight.

Dailey to be inducted into Women's Basketball Hall of Fame

Connecticut Huskies associate coach Chris Dailey reacts during Senior Day before the start of the game against the Tulane Green Wave at Gampel Pavilion. (David Butler II/USA TODAY Sports)

STORRS, Conn. -- The Geno Auriemma-coached 2000 United States U-18 national team was scrimmaging at Colorado College when Duke University-bound Alana Beard finished a stunning drive to the basket.

Auriemma blew his whistle and turned to where his assistant at the University of Connecticut, Chris Dailey, and Tennessee head coach Pat Summitt and her assistant, Mickie DeMoss, were seated in the small gym. They were watching as Team USA's roster included UConn-bound Diana Taurasi and Ashley Battle, and Tennessee-bound Ashley Robinson and Loree Moore.

He then looked over to Summitt and said: "Chris Dailey and Mickie DeMoss should be fired for not recruiting Alana Beard." Summitt nodded her head in agreement. They didn't get fired, though DeMoss did move on to other jobs. But this June they'll be together again in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Dailey, the Huskies' associate head coach, is one of seven people who will be inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame as part of its Class of 2018, it was announced Monday night. She will be the fifth UConn representative in the WBHOF joining Auriemma (Class of 2006) and former players Rebecca Lobo (Class of 2010), Jennifer Rizzotti (Class of 2013) and Kara Wolters (Class of 2017).

UConn, Louisville renew acquaintances

Feb 4, 2018; Syracuse, NY, USA; Louisville Cardinals head coach Jeff Walz reacts to a play against the Syracuse Orange during the second half at the Carrier Dome. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports (Rich Barnes)

For nine seasons, they faced off in February, March, or even April.

But when Louisville left the American Athletic Conference for the Atlantic Coast Conference in 2014, its women's basketball rivalry with the University of Connecticut that saw the teams play 16 times -- including two national championship games and three league tournament finals -- in those nine seasons went with it.

UConn beat Wichita State 124-43, two points shy of program points record,

Feb 10 | 3:30PM

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) Napheesa Collier scored 26 points and Katie Lou Samuelson added 22 points to lead UConn to a 124-43 rout of Wichita State on Saturday in the first meeting between the two programs.

The 124 points was two shy of the program record, which was set against Providence in 1998.

Gabby Williams added 17 points, Azura Stevens 16 and Kia Nurse 14 for the Huskies (24-0, 12-0 American), who won their 75th straight home game, the third longest home winning streak in NCAA history.

In order to beat the University of Connecticut women's basketball team, you have to play them. Central Florida gets to do it as a member of the American Athletic Conference.

"Every time we play them, I think our team understands them more," UCF second-year coach Katie Abrahamson-Henderson said following the Knights' 55-37 loss to the Huskies at CFE Arena in Orlando Wednesday night.

AAC newcomer Wichita State will get its first experience against No. 1 UConn Saturdaywhen the Huskies open a three-game homestand against the Shockers at the XL Center in Hartford (SNY, 1 p.m.). UConn has won 86 consecutive games against first-time opponents dating back to a loss to Georgia at Gampel Pavilion on Jan. 15, 1996.

Travel-weary Huskies ready for home cooking

Gary Apple and Kara Wolters break down the highlights from the UConn women's basketball team's 55-37 win over UCF on Wednesday night.

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Katie Lou Samuelson passes up 80-degree weather about as often as she passes up an open 3-point shot.

But the University of Connecticut women's basketball team's junior All-American and resident California girl was content to trade a warm winter night here for a wintry day in New England if it meant not getting on another plane for almost two weeks.

The top-ranked Huskies wrapped up another trip Wednesday night as Samuelson had 19 points, six rebounds, and five assists in a 55-37 American Athletic Conference win over Central Florida before an announced pro-UConn crowd of 6,155 at CFE Arena. They then headed home where winter and the first three-game homestand of the season awaits.

Huskies ride Williams' winning ways

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Gabby Williams has a unique way of filling a stat sheet, but has never been concerned about her numbers.

The All-American senior forward does make one exception and that's for the University of Connecticut women's basketball team's win total. She has been part of 134 of them heading into Wednesday's American Athletic Conference contest against Central Florida at CFE Arena (SNY, 7 p.m.).

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On the Clock with Geno and Justine

Feb 6 | 5:00PM

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On the Clock w/ Geno and Justine00:02:06

SNY's Justine Ward chats with UConn head coach Geno Auriemma about the off-beat things going on in the world of sports.

SNY's Justine Ward chats with UConn head coach Geno Auriemma about the off-beat things going on in the world of sports.

Huskies' offense thrives at the pass

Connecticut Huskies guard Kia Nurse reacts after her basket against the Cincinnati Bearcats in the second half at XL Center. (David Butler II/USA TODAY Sports)

HARTFORD, Conn. -- For the first time in program history, the University of Connecticut women's basketball team began a season with four 1,000-point scorers.

They didn't do it on their own.

Seniors Kia Nurse and Gabby Williams and juniors Napheesa Collier and Katie Lou Samuelson have combined for 5,736 points as Huskies. The foursome tacked on 79 to their total Sunday as No. 1 UConn rolled past Cincinnati 106-65 in American Athletic Conference action before 12,342 at XL Center. They also combined for 23 of the Huskies' 32 assists. Williams reached the 400-assist plateau Sunday, three days after Nurse got there against South Carolina.

UConn handily defeats Cincinnati, 106-65

Feb 4 | 4:24PM

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) Napheesa Collier says she's proud of the fact that UConn never plays down to the level of its opposition.

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Huskies looking for another growth spurt

By Carl Adamec | Feb 3 | 5:36PM

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Connecticut Huskies guard/forward Napheesa Collier reacts with guard Gabby Williams after a play against the UCF Knights in the second half of the semifinals during the women's AAC Conference Tournament at Mohegun Sun Arena. (David Butler II/USA TODAY Sports)

Katie Lou Samuelson made her first and only shot, a layup, when the University of Connecticut women's basketball team beat South Carolina at Colonial Life Arena her freshman year.

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UConn stays close with no. 8 Cincinnati, loses, 65-57

Feb 3 | 2:30PM

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UConn men's basketball saw great performances from Jalen Adams and Christian Vital, but the Huskies fell short against Cincinnati.

You can count one of the program's former rival coaches among those thinking Cincinnati can be a real factor come NCAA Tournament time.

"I think they've got an outstanding team that could get to the Final Four depending on who they play, the health, and if they bring their 'A' game," former Xavier coach and current CBS Sports Network radio analyst Pete Gillen told the Cincinnati Enquirer this week.

"You need a player that can make a big shot down the stretch," Gillen said. "I think Jacob Evans can do that. Gary Clark can do that. Usually those last games tend to be low-scoring. Coaches get a little conservative. You need guys that can put it on the deck and create. That, and great defense. Defense travels on the road and in your tournaments."

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Nurse's layup line not that easy

By Carl Adamec | Feb 2 | 11:00PM

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(Jonathan Dyer)

COLUMBIA, S.C. -- There are times that Kia Nurse makes 3-point shots look like layups.

But how the senior guard looks on layups has UConn coach Geno Auriemma wanting to pull some of his hair out.

"Kia explodes to the basket but the ball comes off her hand like at her palm," Auriemma said Thursday night. "I'm like, 'You're on the (Canadian) Olympic team and that's how you shoot layups?' "

Huskies have no problems with South Carolina

By Carl Adamec | Feb 1 | 10:55PM

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Connecticut Huskies guard/forward Napheesa Collier reacts with guard Gabby Williams after a play against the UCF Knights in the second half of the semifinals during the women's AAC Conference Tournament at Mohegun Sun Arena. (David Butler II/USA TODAY Sports)

Having played here two years ago as a sophomore, the University of Connecticut women's basketball team's senior All-American was confident she and her fellow upperclassmen with experience here could handle anything reigning national champion South Carolina and a sellout crowd of 18,000 could throw at them.

The Huskies opened things up early to lead 53-24 at the half on their way to a 21-0 start for the fourth time in five seasons. They extended their NCAA mark with their 48th straight road win and, if anyone needed more evidence, marked themselves the clear favorite for another NCAA title.

No. 7 South Carolina (18-4) fell to 0-6 all-time against UConn and 0-15 in program history against No. 1 teams.

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No. 1 UConn challenges national champion South Carolina

COLUMBIA, S.C. -- On Jan. 3, 1998, the University of Connecticut women's basketball team was welcomed by 24,597 orange-clad fans to Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville. The 84-69 loss to Tennessee marks the only time in program history the Huskies have played the reigning national champion on the road.

That will change.

A crowd of 18,000 is expected here Thursday night as 2017 national champion and No. 7 South Carolina entertains top-ranked UConn for a non-league showdown at Colonial Life Arena.

Megan Walker had the best seven-day stretch of her young career with the University of Connecticut women's basketball team and she was rewarded for it on Monday.

Walker was named the American Athletic Conference Freshman of the Week for the first time. In league wins over Memphis and Tulane she averaged 11.5 points and 3.5 rebounds.

Her week-long surge actually began on Jan. 21 when she had a season-high 22 points to go with six rebounds and five assists over 32 minutes in a 113-57 win at Temple. She then had 10 points and six rebounds in the 93-36 victory at Memphis last Wednesday. Then on Saturday against Tulane at Gampel Pavilion, she had 13 points and two assists in a 98-45 triumph...

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UConn blown out on the road by Temple

Jan 28 | 10:20PM

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The UConn men's basketball team continued their struggles Sunday night, falling to Temple, 85-57.

Huskies earn high marks off the court

Connecticut Huskies guard Kia Nurse after the game against the Memphis Lady Tigers at Elma Roane Field House. (Justin Ford/USA TODAY Sports)

STORRS, Conn. -- The University of Connecticut women's basketball team shot a near-school record 72.2 percent from the floor Saturday in its 98-45 American Athletic Conference win over Tulane at Gampel Pavilion.

But the Huskies were even better when it came to being represented Thursday at "3.0 night" during halftime of the UConn-SMU men's game. Nine players on the 12-player roster (75 percent) were among the 361 student-athletes honored by UConn's Division of Athletics.

STORRS, Conn. (AP) Katie Lou Samuelson scored 15 of her 19 points in the first half to lead UConn to a 98-45 rout of Tulane on Saturday and a 20-0 start to the season for the 11th time in program history.

Kia Nurse scored 14 for the Huskies (9-0 American Athletic Conference) and tied a career high with seven rebounds.

UConn had six players in double figures for the sixth time this season.

UConn confirms NCAA investigation of men's basketball program

Jan 26 | 8:13AM

Connecticut Huskies head coach Kevin Ollie yells towards his players during the second half of the game against the Tulsa Golden Hurricane at the Reynolds Center. (Brett Rojo/USA TODAY Sports)

The University of Connecticut confirms it is the target of an NCAA investigation into its men's basketball program.

University President Susan Herbst, in a statement released Friday morning, says the school is committed to "a culture of compliance" and intends to fully cooperate with the investigation in a "thorough and transparent manner."

UConn (19-0, 8-0 American Athletic Conference) trailed only briefly in the opening minutes before beating Memphis for the ninth time overall and second time this season.

The Huskies routed Memphis 97-49 when the Tigers visited Dec. 31. The venue changed, but not the final result with UConn winning in a more smothering fashion despite coach Geno Auriemma pulling all but one starter in the third quarter. The Huskies held Memphis to fewer points in each of the first three quarters.

Dangerfield, Huskies head to Memphis

The opening minute of the University of Connecticut women's basketball team's game at Temple Sunday seemed more like the 41st minute of Thursday's game against Tulsa as the Owls scored the first six points.